Top 20 Albums of 2020

Well, 2020 is finally coming to a close so of course like every other vain music fan I have decided to rank my top 20 albums from this year. Looking back I really feel like 2020 can be a year where we say we were treated to some great music (although Justin Bieber tried to ruin that) and hopefully I haven’t got this list completely wrong. So without further ado, the list you didn’t want but you have, my top 20 albums of 2020…

20. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats – Unlocked

Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats combine to bring the ENERGY on this project. Each song is relentless, the beats just slap you all over the place and Curry’s delivery is perfect. Eight songs is the perfect length for the project, I couldn’t see it being able to keep this energy up over say 12-15 songs. However, as far as what it tries to achieve it definitely does, Curry comes off as an overpowered villain just going absolutely crazy for the sake of it.

Stand-out song: Lay_Up.m4a

19. Potter Payper – Training Day 3

Potter Payper proves his ability to set a scene on Training Day 3, his pain is palpable through his lyrics and although the album does have periods in which it lacks energy and variety listening to the album is an experience. This album shines in its ability to portray this ruthless world in which Potter Payper lives, it is unbelievably true to inner-city life. The first 3 songs are enough to demonstrate Potter Payper’s ability to tell a story through his voice and words and throughout the album I found myself amazed by some of the lyricism.

Stand Out – Purpose

18. Franc Moody – Dream In Colour

This album is so soulful and full of funk it is ridiculous. Each song keeps the energy up, there’s no fall off and it just sounds so pleasant. Throughout the year this is the album I reached for when I needed a pick me up or an injection of energy and definitely helped me get through the various levels of lockdown. At points, I do feel that the project lacks a little variety but at the end of the day this sound is what Franc Moody do so well and I don’t think sticking to that is necessarily a problem.

Stand Out – She’s Too Good For Me

17. Lil Baby – My Turn

Despite the album being far too long, Lil Baby shows that he is able to perform well on a variety of beats in a variety of styles and make a thoroughly enjoyable project. I found myself coming back to this album more than I originally thought I would, a lot of the songs have infectious energy which is what I personally like in Lil Baby’s music. Lil Baby was also able to connect with the listener and was able to make him reflecting entertaining and relatable.

Stand Out – No Sucker (feat. Moneybagg Yo)

16. Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes – What Kinda Music

From the first listen I knew I would be coming back to this album a lot over the year, and I found that every time I did I was finding new sounds and patterns in the music which speaks to the musicality of this album. The ability Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes have for being able to paint a picture with the music on this album is incredible and it’s such a pleasant listen. I do feel that a stronger vocal performance on some of the track would have pushed this album further up the list but I’m happy with it as it is.

Stand Out – Tidal Wave

15. Run The Jewels – RTJ4

This is an album that demands attention, each song is unavoidable you must focus on it when you listen to it. The energy is unrivalled, and the beats serve the album so well. Each song is not lacking in vocals or musicality and Run The Jewels are able to put the message behind the album forward without it becoming patronising or boring. When listening to it, it felt very eventful and I definitely thought I would go back to it more than I ended up doing, I do think that its relentlessness means it doesn’t feel like an album you can dip in and out of which can work against it at times.

Stand Out – JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack de la Rocha)

14. Don Toliver – Heaven or Hell

Don Toliver for me is one of the most exciting young talents in music and this year with Heaven or Hell he showed everybody just how good he can be. The album does what it needs to do and doesn’t stretch itself out with pointless fillers, the production matches Don Toliver’s performances perfectly helping to create an amazingly immersive experience. Another reason that this album has made it into this list is the ability for Don Toliver to take a sound that has been predominantly dominated by Travis Scott in recent years and make it his own.

Stand Out – No Photos

13. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon III: The Chosen

Kid Cudi made his long-awaited return to the Man On The Moon trilogy this year and did not disappoint. Reverting back to his original sound Cudi is able to discuss his previous problems with alcohol and drugs and give an insight into what his life was like during that period. As the album progresses he starts to tell the story of how he was able to recover his life and become much more in control of it rather than feeling as if the world is moving around whilst you watch on from the outside. Musically there are a lot of similarities that could be made between this and Travis Scott’s music, however, for me, this isn’t an issue as Cudi pioneered this style of music and had experimented in his music for a long time so this feels like a welcomed return.

Stand Out – Tequila Shots

12. Headie One – Edna

The best of UK drill without a doubt! Headie One on Edna proves why he should be considered the best drill artist in the UK at the moment. The star of the album is Headie One’s versatility and his ability to do the traditional drill sound perfectly but also to translate that over to more mainstream sounds as well. The features on this album also do amazingly, future is the standout for me by far but Young T & Bugsey, Ivorian Doll and Aitch all provide great additions to the album.

Stand Out – Bumpy Ride (feat. M Huncho) / 21 Gun Salute (feat. Young Adz)

11. Amine – Limbo

It’s a testament to the number of great releases this year that this album has just missed the top 10 because it is so much fun to listen to and really showcases just how much talent Amine has. The album has a more west coast feel to it giving it a more chill and relaxed feel. Amine is able to come across on these beats as effortless and his flows are incredibly infectious. This album, in general, is just such a pleasant listen and is definitely one that I will be going back to for years to come.

Stand Out – Easy (feat. Summer Walker)

10. KwolleM – C2C

This album is like anything I’ve ever heard before. KwolleM is able to create a whole new take on grime and produce a new sound for the scene which does what grime always strives to do and innovate. As I wrote in my review on the album, the album is in a sense an antithesis of what grime has become known for, the hard and rough beats are transformed into smooth and luxurious sounds but KwolleM does amazingly well and blending the two rather than completely ignoring the traditions of grime music.

Stand Out – Woolwich Arsenal (DLR) (feat. DC)

09. Benny The Butcher – Burden of Proof

Benny The Butcher turned in one of my favourite performances of the year on Burden of Proof. Starting with the production, it is varied, it tries to do something different and drives the album forward. I do find that especially with this type of rap albums can often slow down at points or get bogged down but Hit-Boy does an amazing job to keep it sounding fresh and interesting. Benny The Butcher throughout the whole album has you hanging on to his words, his ability to keep you listening and interested with his delivery, tone and lyrics is amazing.

Stand Out – Famous

08. Westside Gunn – Pray for Paris

Back to back Griselda albums! The best way to describe this album is like an assault rifle on a bed of roses. The production is gorgeous, full of luxurious sounds and soulful samples providing a backdrop for Westside Gunn’s street storytelling providing a welcomed juxtaposition. The laid-back production allows Westside Gunn’s voice to become part of the music also rather than just flowing on top, his vocal inflections match so well with the instrumentation. The adlibs also keep the energy up on many tracks and adds character to the album making sure it doesn’t become too luxurious.

Stand Out – Shawn vs. Flair

07. Nines – Crabs In A Bucket

Nines reminds us why he is considered by some to be the best UK rapper at the moment on Crabs In A Bucket. The GOAT of making it sound like he isn’t even trying but this album does not lack energy at any point. Nines’ lyricism shines as usual and the beats are there to back it up. On top of the music, Nines demonstrated how multi-talented he is with the accompanying short film. Airplane Mode, if it wasn’t for Coronavirus, would have been shutting down every festival, rave, house party and club up and down the country this year. I wish I could put this album higher up but the same could be said for a lot of albums on this list.

Stand Out – NIC (feat Tiggs Da Author)

06. The Weeknd – After Hours

The Weeknd continues to evolve his style on After Hours and you could even say he manages to master it on this album. A psychedelic trip through the life of an 80s drug addict, the album is truly an out of this world experience on first listen. The album is so well built to tell a story and each song just fits perfectly with each other. It’s now my go-to album for the Weeknd (can’t really fit the trilogy into a busy day) it’s just such a smooth and enjoyable listen that I’m sure it’ll be an album that stays with me for a long time.

Stand Out - Faith

05. Wizkid – Made In Lagos

This album honestly could have been number 1 and I’m sure will be some people’s number 1. From top to bottom this album is amazing, there are no weak songs, every song has amazing energy and does what it is intended to do. It’s truly a shame that we weren’t able to hear some of the songs on this album played in clubs or festivals, I think there we would have been able to fully appreciate just how good this album is.

Stand Out – True Love (feat. Tay Iwar & Projexx)

04. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist combine on Alfredo to bring one of the best sounding albums of the year. Freddie Gibbs just floats over the instrumentals with effortlessly amazing flows and great lyricism. His delivery does not drop off throughout the album, the energy is constantly there, and it is so easy to listen to. That is helped by Alchemist’s amazing production on this album, he is able to create these tracks which are so addictive to listen to and are so pleasing to the ear. Overall, this album is indulgent and luxurious whilst at the same time having some form of relatability to it.

Stand Out – God Is Perfect

03. Conway The Machine – From King To A God

Conway The Machine is relentless on From King To A God. Every song just feels like Conway woke up on the wrong side of the bed and decided that he had to let every single human being on earth know he is the best rapper alive. His ability to unleash barrages of bars means that even with very laidback instrumentals the energy is carried but also his ability to do this in a relaxed way means that every single bar is clear and detailed. It would be criminal to also not mention Alchemist who also produced this album and for me claimed the best producer of the year award. The space he is able to give Conway on these tracks whilst also making an instrumental that is enticing and pleasant to listen to whilst keeping it simple to not take away from Conway is mind-blowing.

Stand Out – Fear Of God (feat. DeJ Loaf)

02. Mac Miller – Circles

Mac Miller Circles was one of my most anticipated and dreaded albums of the year. I had hope that the album would continue Mac’s legacy well, but posthumous albums have a tendency to not live up to what the artist had made before their death. However, this album breaks from that and what is produced is an album that I would say Mac would be proud to release if he was still alive. The songs sound like Mac Miller songs, they carry meaning; a pessimistic optimism and sound as good as Mac’s best work. On top of that Mac Miller meant so much to a lot of his fans and his ability to always be so relatable is still present on this album. Combining how good the music is and how much Mac Miller meant to me as a fan this album had to be in my top 3 at least.

Stand Out – Complicated

01. J Hus – Big Conspiracy

WHAT AN ALBUM! From the first to the last track on this album, every single tune is a VIBE. J Hus has made this sound his own completely, there is no one who can do what he does. So much so that when it came to listening to this album again before making this list I had this album at number 6, after listening to the album again it went straight to number 1. I knew every single lyric on the album, every single song had me doing gun fingers at my laptop. This album is amazing, J Hus gives his best lyrical performance, the album is focussed and has a meaning, it is just the complete J Hus project. Jae 5 does what he always does and makes beats that just take over your body. The combination of the two just feels unfair and on top of this, the album just feels so special and makes me proud to be from a city where talent like this is produced.

Stand Out – Deeper Than Rap

Honourable mentions:

Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas, Georgia - Seeking Thrills, The Big Moon - Walking Like We Do, Four Tet - Sixteen Oceans, Tee Grizzley - The Smartest, Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony, Pop Smoke - Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon, The Streets - None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper - Dinner Party, Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, Little Simz - Drop 6, Future - High Off Life